Automatic replenishing device for cup dispensers



vii I t J. J. BOOTH ETAL Jan. 20, 1959 AUTOMATIC REPLENISHING DEVICE FORcup DISPENSERS Filed Jan. 9. 1956 2'Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 20, 1959 J. J.BOOTH ETAL 2,869,754

AUTOMATIC REPLENISHING-DEVICE FOR CUP DISPENSERS Filed Jan. 9, 195s 2Sheets-Shet 2 W 0&1? 6

Jack 1/. Boof/z ///7// '0/77 C. Bra/76f;

a 7/ INVENTORS ATTORNEY tified above.

United States AUTOMATIC REPLENISHING DEVICE FOR CUP DISPENSERS Jack J.Booth and William C. Branch, Dallas, Tex.

Application January 9, 1956, Serial No. 558,026 9 Claims. (Cl. 221-11)This invention relates to paper cup dispensers and more particularly tosuch dispensers as employed in coin actuated beverage vending machines.

The principal object of the invention is to provide, in a cup dispenser,a cup storage magazine on one or both sides of a dual cup dispenserwherein a reciprocating slide releases cups alternately from verticallydisposed, parallel dispensing magazines, such as described in myco-pending application, Serial No. 230,-

779, filed June 9, 1951, now Patent No. 2,747,782.

Moreover, the invention anticipates mechanism adapted to prohibitinterference between the cups in the storage compartments or magazineswith those in the active or dispensing magazines to insure free andunrestricted release of cups by the dispensing mechanism at all times.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds when consideredwith the annexed drawing, wherein:

1 Fig. l is a side elevational view of a paper cup dispenser showing therelationship therewith of the improved cup replenishing mechanism of theinvention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2--2 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of a conventional cup dispenser.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the cupreplenishing mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a bladed cup restraining element adapted towithhold cups in the storage com partment while there are still cups inthe dispensing magazine.

In beverage vending machines wherein the beverage is automaticallyreleased into cups individually dropped into receiving position by adispensing mechanism co- "efficiency of the otherwise able performanceof beverage vending machines with which they are designed to function.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing, reference ismore primarily to Figs. 1 and 2 wherein numeral 10 designates generallyacup dispenser such as described in the co-pending application iden- This dispenser consists essentially of a slide 11 which is supported on thedispenser 10 by means of screws 12 (Fig. 3) extending through longi.tudinal slots 13 in the slide, thus to enable the slide to reciprocatelongitudinally. An elongate opening atent O "ice in the slide 11accommodates the bottom cups 15 of the two parallel columns of cups 16in the dispensing magazines, generally indicated in Fig. 1 by referencenumeral 17. As the slide 11 moves to the right, as viewed in Fig. 3, akicker spring 18 engages under the lip of the lowest cup 15, releasingthe same from the bottom of its column 16 to take its position in themachine for filling. At the end of the reverse travel of the slide 11, asecond kicker spring 19 engages the lip of the lowest cup of thecompanion column 16, releasing this cup in like manner.

It is not deemed necessary to burden this description with a detaileddescription of the cup dispenser since the latter is clearly shown anddescribed in the aforementioned application. It is considered that thisabove brief explanation of the function of the cup dispenser will besufficient to reveal the relationship between this cup dispenser and thepresent invention, the description of which follows.

The cup replenishing mechanism of the invention includes a platform 20on which is adapted to rest a column of cups 21 in a storage magazine orcompartment 22 at the left of the dispensing or delivery magazines 17,as they may sometimes be called. The platform 20 is hinged by means of ahorizontal pin 23, to a supporting bracket, generally indicated byreference numeral 24 and which is composed of a plate 25, whose loweredge 26 is turned inwardly toward the dispenser 10 and is securedthereto by a bolt 27. The upper edge 28 of the plate 25 is bentoutwardly and upwardly, and is secured to the lower portion of thestorage magazine 22. A second plate 29 has an upturned portion 30secured to the vertical portion of the plate 25 by means of rivets 31. Apair of horizontally spaced ferrules. 32 are formed on the upper edge ofthe upturned portion 30 of the plate 29 to receive the pin 23 aboutwhich the platform 20 rotates. The plate 29 has a depending portion 33whose lower edge 34 is bent at right anglesto bear against one of thecylindrical retainers 35 of the cup dispenser 10, as shown in Fig. 1. i

At the bend 36 between the horizontal portion of the plate 29 and thevertical portion 33 thereof, a pair of horizontal, spaced apart ferrules37 (Fig. 2) are formed to accommodate a horizontal shaft 38. Mounted foroscillation about the shaft 38 is a strap 39 which will be referred tohereinafter as the trigger support inasmuch as it supports the platform20 and triggers the same to collapsed position when the cups in the lefthand magazine 17 are depleted. To connect the trigger support 39 to theshaft 38, a pair of ears 40 is formed, one on each side thereof. Theseears are provided with matching holes to receive the shaft 38, as shown.The upper end of the trigger support 39 carries a roller 41 which, inoperative position of the trigger, tests under the edge of the platform20 opposite the hinged edge thereof.

The lower end of the trigger 39 is turned outwardly and downwardly as at42 and normally bears against the combined lips of the several cups inthe column 16 adjacent the bottom of the column. The presence of thesecups prevents the trigger 39 from turning on the shaft 38 and releasingthe platform 20.

In order to prevent frictional engagement of the portion 42 of thetrigger 39, combined with the weight of the column of cups 21 fromholding the cups in the adjacent column 16 against downward movement inthe dispenser 10, it is necessary to relieve this friction each time thedispenser 10 is actuated to release a cup 15. This is accomplished by anupstanding arm 43 whose lower end 44 (Fig. 2) is secured to one side ofthe slide 11 by a rivet or screw 45. The upper portion 46 of the arm 43is turned inwardly at right angles and is adapted to be referencenumeral fiand isfshownper se assentbrought up against the trigger 39each time the slide 11 of the dispenser moves to the right. When thisoccurs the upper portion of the trigger 39 above its pivotal shaft 38will be moved slightly outward to cause its lower cup engaging portion42 tomove away from the cups in the adjacent column 16, freeing them fordownward displacement'as a cup is dropped from thebottom thereof. Afterthe cup is dispensed, the arm 43 relaxes its pressure against thetrigger 39 and the latter returns to its position against the column ofcups lie, which holds the big ger in position to support the cups 231 inAt no time is the replenishing mechanism attested by the dis pensing ofcups, the platform Zti rernainin'g in support of the cups 21in storageuntil all but the last 5 or 6 cups are left in the adjacent deliverymagazine 17.

Whenall but the aforesaid 5 or 6 cups have dis 'pensed from the adjacentdelivery magazine 17, nothing remains to support the portion 42 of thetrigger 3?, hence the latter pivots about the shaft 38, the roller 41 atits upper end moving toward the pivot point 23 of the platform 20. Sincethe trigger now no longer supports the platform 2n, the lattercollapses, permitting the column of cups -21 to 'slide downwardly andinto the uppermost cups of those remaining in the dispenser. As thecolumn 'of cups. from storagemove. into the described position fordispensing, they contact the portion 4 2 of the trigger 39, moving itdownwardly while causing the upper end thereof to move forwardly,thereby restoring the platform to its operative position to receiveanother column of cups, the lower portion 42 of the trigger'meanwhileresuming its position against the column of cups deposited intothe-dispenser.

The platformfZti has angularly disposed wings 47, one on each sidetofacilitate centering of the cups 21 thereon and is further providedwithan angularly extending finger .48 rearwardly thereof which is effectiveto kick the cups 'inthe direction of tilt "of the platform whenthe'latter is released, ase'xplain'ed. p The drawing shows a dual cupdispenser, hence a dual replenishing mechanism is required. Thereplenishing mechanism shown at the right in Fig. 1 is an identicalduplicate of that shown at the left of the figure, hence identicalnumerals are employed to identify corresponding parts in the tworeplenishing mechanisms.

Referring nowtolFigs/4, j and 6, showing a modification of. thereplenishing mechanism just described, numeral 5t) denotes generallythecup dispensing mechanism of., the type referred, to in the co-pendingapplication Serial No. 230,779,,filedJune 9, 1951, now Patent No.2,747,782., This dispenser consists essentially of the reciprocableslide 51.,whichis shifted from side to side .as

the vending mechanism-inf a. vending machine is operated, to releasecups SZ'aIternateiyjfrom the bottoms of the parallel columns of cups 53,in the dispensing or delivery magazine or compartment 54 I Supportedadjacent the dispensing mechanism St is a chute generally indicated byreference numeral 55 which will be referred to from time to time as thecup storage magazine or compartment ;This magazine 55 has an inclinedbottom or slide dd whiclr supports a plurality of stacks or columns ofcups,57 in such manner that these columns are movedsuccessively intostacked relationship with the remaining cups in respective deliverymagazines 54 when the cups 53 therein are almost deplete-d. The lowestpoint of the inclined bottom 56is elevated slightly above the dispenserSi} or a distance equal to the height of a reduced column of about 5 or6cups remaining in the dispenser. This insures that the dispensingmagasine will be replenished before all of the cups have been dispensed.I i .1

To control the passage of'colurnns of cups from the storage to thedispensing magazinqa rotary'cu pfrest r'aining member is' provided andis generally'indicated by member 58 "is comprised of a vertical shaft'59 torestrain nergt succeeding column i' I "ner 'earlier described.This-operationis iep'eated 'au'td upper end is journaled in a bearing 60which latter is mounted on the near end of a supporting bracket or arm61, the latter being afiixed at its far or rear end to a rear wall plate62 of the storage magazine 55. The lower end of the vertical shaft 63(Fig. 4) is supported by an end 64 of a metal strap or bracket 65, theopposite end of the latter being secured, as by bolts or rivets 66 tothe lower edge of the front wall 67 of the storage magazine 55.

The shaft 59 has attached thereto, as by welding or rivets 63 (Fig. 6),a pair of substantially V-shaped plates es, the angles of those platesbeing formed to the shaft. Thus are provided four radial blades 70, 71,72 and 73 which are spaced apart The front wall 67 of the storagemagazine 5'5 is shorter than tne parallel rear wall 62 to define avertical space 7%, to accommodate the blades of the cup restrainingmember 58 whose lower end is spaced sufficiently above the dispenser 5%as to clear a reduced column of approximately 5 or 6 cups remaining inthe dispensing magazine 54. I

The top edges 75 of the parallel walls 62 and 67 are inclined on a flushplane but the degree of incline is-les's than that of the floor orbottom 56 of the storage magazine, down which the columns of cups 57slide. To prope'l the columns of cups down the inclined floor of thechute, a weight in the form of a swinging plate 76 is suspended from. across ine'mb'er or transverse shaft 77 eX- tending from one wall 62 tothe other wall 57 and has its ends journaled in grooved rollers 78adapted to engage the upper edges of the walls 62 and 67 and travel bygravity thereon in the directionof the dispensing magazines 54.

The cup restraining member 58 is mounted for free rotation in 'itsbearings 60 and 63 but is held against such rotation by an upstandingarm 79 whose lower end is secured, as by a 'bo'lt'sfi (Fig. 4) to oneside of the slide 51 of the cup dispenser 50. As shown, one blade 70 ofthe restraining member SE-is disposed between the lowest column of cups57th the storage magazine 55 and the adjacent column of cups 53 inthe'dispensing magazine 54. Until the highest cup. in the column of cupsin the dispensing magazine 54 moves be low the lower end of the cuprestraining member 58, the latter cannot turn, first, because of thepresence of the cups in the dispensing magazine but actually because ofthe fact that the'blade 72 of the restraining member 58, in the positionshown, is engaged by the release arm 79 which is actuated by thedispensing mechanism.

Each time a cup is dispensed from the bottom of the column of cups inthe dispenser 50, the release arm 79 will move into the solidlineposition shown. The arm will'engage the blade 72, causing'a slightcounter cloekwise movement of the restraining inember 58. This actionwill cause the opposite blade 70' of the-member sew move away from theadjacent column of-eups 53, relieving pressure thereon so that theicups'Will pass freely downward in the dispenserand will not be suspended bythe restraining member 58 When there are but 5 or 6 cups remaining inthe adjacent dispensing magazine 54, there isnothing to prevent therestraining me1nber-58-from rotating, since the release arm 79 will havemoved to the dotted-position shown. This being true,-the first column ofcups in the storage magazine 55 will move, partly by gravity and partlyby the pressure of the pusher plate 76, into the delivery magazine54'and will be deposited into the uppermost of the remaining cups in the'magazine 54. As this action takes place the blade 76) of therestraining member 58will assume the position shown to be occupied bythe blade 71 while the latter' 'will move into the position ofblade72"and'thej'blade 73''willno'w repose between the releasedcolunin andthe next succeeding'column of cups in the'storage magazine 55 thusth'eur'iantnatically until all of the columns of cups 57 have beendischarged from the storage magazine 55.

The empty space in the storage magazine 55 created by the successivedischarge of columns of cups into the delivery magazine 54 may be filledat any time by additional columns of cups by moving the pusher plate 76rearwardly and placing its shaft 77 into the retaining hooks 81 afiixedto the end wall 82 of the storage magazine 55. The columns of clips areusually packed in containers from which the cups are deposited directlyinto the storage magazine without need for handling them. i i

It is evident from the foregoing that the column of cups 53 in thedelivery magazine 54 is never underrestraint by frictional contacttherewith of the blades of the restraining member 58 during anydispensing operation since the release arm 79 ,willalways be brought upagainst the outwardly extending blade of the member 58 during eachdispensing action to move the member 58 in a counter clock-wisedirection a distance sufiicient only to cause the diametrically oppositeblade of the member 58 to withdraw from the active column of cups in thedelivery magazine 54 and thereby relieve friction thereon.

Maniiestly, the construction "as shown and described ing of the appendedclaims is also considered to be within the spirit and intent of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a cup dispenser having a horizontallyreciprocable cup release slide, a cup replenishing mechanism comprisinga cup delivery magazine containing a column of cups from which cups aresingly released by said slide, a cup storage magazine adjacent saiddelivery magazine containing a column of cups, restraining meansnormally in frictional contact with the column of cups in said deliverymagazine and restraining the column of cups in said storage magazine andmeans carried by said reciprocable slide adapted to engage saidrestraining means during each cup releasing action of said slide to movethe same out of frictional contact with the column of cups in saiddelivery magazine, said restraining means being ineffective to restrainthe column of cups in said storage magazine when the height of thecolumn of cups in said delivery magazine recedes below a predeterminedlevel.

2. In combination with a paper cup dispenser having a reciprocable slideadapted to release cups alternately from parallel columns of cups in adelivery magazine, a cup replenishing device comprising a storagemagazine in which a column of cups is disposed for release into saiddelivery magazine, restraining means in frictional contact with anadjacent column of cups in said delivery magazine and held thereby inoperative position to re-' strain said column of cups in said storagemagazine, said restraining means being ineffective to restrain saidcolumn of cups in said storage magazine when the height of the column ofcups in said delivery magazine recedes to a predetermined level andmeans carried by said dispenser slide fior relieving frictional contactbetween said restraining means and the column of cups in said deliverymagazine during each dispensing action of said slide.

3. In combination with a paper cup dispenser having a cup release slide,a delivery magazine containing a stack of cups, from the bottom of whichcups are suceessively released by said slide, a storage magazine inwhich a stack of cups is disposed to replenish said delivery magazine,means holding said stack of cups in said storage magazine while theheight of the stack of cups in said delivery magazine is above thelowest cup in the stack in said storage magazine, means normallyengaging the stack of cups in said delivery magazine for restrainingsaid holding means until the stack of cups in said delivery magazinerecedes below the lowest cup in the stack of cups in said storagemagazine and means carriedby said slide for disengaging said restrainingmeans from the stack of cups in said delivery magazine during eachdispensing cycle of said dispenser to free said latter stack of cups fordownward movement.

4. A cup replenisher for a cup dispenser comprising a delivery magazinefrom which cups are released from the bottom of a stack in said deliverymagazine by said dispenser, a storage magazine from which stacks of cupsare released successively into said delivery magazine to replenish thelatter, restraining means maintained in an operative position byengagement with cups in said delivery magazine for restraining cups insaid storage magazine and becoming inetfective to restrain the lattercups when the stack of cups in said delivery magazine recedes below apredetermined height and means actuated by said dispenser fordisengaging said restraining means from the stack of cups in saiddelivery magazine to free the same for downward movement in saiddispenser.

5. A cup replenisher for a cup dispenser comprising a cup deliverymagazine above the dispenser from which cups are released by thedispenser from a stack of cups in the delivery magazine, a cup storagemagazine from which stacks of cups are deposited successively into thedelivery magazine to replenish it, and means normally in contact withand supported by the stack of cups in the delivery magazine forrestraining an adjacent stack of finger on the side thereof opposite thetrigger support capable of acting as a kicker to urge the stack of cupsdisposed thereon in the direction of the delivery magazine, the triggersupport including a bent metal strap, pivotally supported intermediateits ends and rotatable about a horizontal axis, and a roller carried byone end of the strap and bearing against the under side of the platform,the opposite end of the strap normally engaging the sides of the stackof cups in the delivery magazine and being maintained in engagementtherewith by the weight of the stack of c-ups on the platform, acting onthe adjacent end of the strap.

6. In apparatus as described in claim 5, means carried by the dispenserfor moving the restraining means out of contact with the stack of cupsin the delivery magazine free the stack of cups for downward movement.

7. In a cup replenisher for a cup dispenser comprising .a cup deliverymagazine above the dispenser from which cups are released by thedispenser from a stack of cups in the delivery magazine, a cup storagemagazine from which stacks of cups are deposited successively, bygravity, into the delivery magazine to replenish it, and means normallyin contact with and supported by the stack of cups in the deliverymagazine, and maintained in engagement therewith by the weight of anadjacent stack of cups in the storage magazine, for restraining theadjacent stack of cups in the storage magazine against movement bygravity toward the delivery magazine, the restraining means releasingthe adjacent stack of cups in the storage magazine upon depletion of thesupplyof cups in the delivery magazine, means carried by the dis penserfor moving the restraining means out of contact with the stack of cupsin the delivery magazine during each operating cycle of the dispenser tothereby free the stack of cups for downward movement.

8. A cup replenisher for a cup dispenser comprising a 7 "cup deliverymagazine above the dispenser from which cups are released bythedispenser from a stack of cups in the delivery magazine, a cupstorage magazine from which stacks of cups are deposited successively,by gravity, into the delivei'y'magazine to replenish it, and meansnormally in contact with and supported by the stack of -cup's i'n thedelivery magazine, and maintained in engagement therewith by the weightof an adjacent stack of cnps in "the storage magazine,ffor restrainingthe adjacent stack of cups inthe storage magazine against movement bygravity toward the delivery magazine, the restraining means releasingthe adjacent stack of cups in the storage magazine upon depletion of thesupply or cups in the 'deliveryina'gazine, the restraining meansincluding a platform on which a stack of cups in the storage magazine isdisposed, the platform being pivotaliy supported on 'one side and havinga trigger support on its opposite side, the platform being inclineddownwardly in the direction of the delivery magazine upon disengagingthe trigger lsuppor't therefrom, the trigger support including abentnietai strap, 'pivotally supported intermediate its ends androtatable about a 'horizontal axis, one end of the st'rap bearingagainst the under side of the platform, the opposite end of the strapnormally engaging the sides of the stack of cups in the deliverymagazine and being maintained in engagement therewith by the weight ofthe stack of cups on the platform, acting on the adjacent end of thestrap.

9. In a cup replenisher for a cup dispenser comprising a cup deliverymagazine feeding the dispenser, a cup storage magazine feeding thedelivery magazine, and means normally engaging a stack of cups in thedelivery magazine, and maintained in engagement therewith by pressureapplied thereto by an adjacent stack 'of cups in the storage magazine,operative to restrain the adjacent stack of cups in the storage magazineagainst movement toward the delivery magazine, ,the restraining meansbeing ineifective to prevent the movement of cups from the storagemagazine to the delivery magazine when the delivery magazine issubstantially depleted, means operated by the dispenser for disengagingthe restraining means fromthestackfo'f cups in the delivery magazine tothereby free the stack ,of cups for unrestricted downward movement whenthe dispenser is actuated "to release a cup fromthe stack of cups.

Referencesfiited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,881,894 Olsen Oct. 11, 1932 2,370,848 ,Doggett Mar. 6, 1945 2,379,501"Steiner et a1. July 3, 1945 2,501,816 Holinger t Mar. 28, 19,50

